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ABC TV Airing Docu Series Hopkins

ABC and Johns Hopkins Scratch Each Other’s Marketing Backs in “Hopkins,” a Glossy Version of Reality TV

Given my last name, I couldn’t help noticing that ABC TV is airing a new series this summer called “Hopkins.” Millions of Americans must enjoy watching medical reality TV shows—I know I do, in small doses. We’ve got “The Critical Hour,” “Trauma,” “Life in the ER,” “Mystery Diagnosis,” and “Dr. G., Medical Examiner,” to name a few of the top picks. Now ABC TV and Johns Hopkins Hospital have teamed up again to bring us the slickly produced and simply named docu series “Hopkins.” In 2000 ABC did the show “Hopkins 24/7” with Johns Hopkins Hospital, and it must have gotten good ratings because they’re at it again, albeit with a different spin.

The new “Hopkins” features six episodes that follow the lives of doctors, students and patients. Based on the preview shown on the ABC website, this looks like Grey’s Anatomy reality TV. According to an article in Variety, the “Hopkins” producers and crew were given classes on hygiene and patient confidentiality, then were essentially given free rein to roam about the hospital 24/7 filming.

The ABC website also gives insight into how the network giant and the medical giant are scratching each other’s marketing backs. The Johns Hopkins name and reputation gives what is essentially reality TV some panache, while ABC’s “Hopkins” gives Johns Hopkins Medical Center unequaled exposure that will surely bring in lots of paying customers. In fact, the ABC site has a prominent home page link to “References,” that features “Johns Hopkins Symptoms and Remedies,” complete with the Johns Hopkins Logo, and an extensive list of ailments with descriptions and diagrams. Slick! In fact if the upscale website is any indication of what the show will be like, we’re in for some interesting entertainment.